Mount Ridley Mines Identifies Rare Earths in Phosphate Minerals at Grass Patch

Mount Ridley Mines Limited announced on 6 August 2026 the results of its first automated mineralogy (TIMA) study of material from the Grass Patch Complex in Western Australia. The analysis, performed by AXT Pty Ltd, showed that rare earth elements are almost entirely hosted within three phosphate minerals – xenotime, crandallite‑group phosphates and monazite/rhabdophane – with xenotime being the most prevalent.

The findings give the company a clear basis for its beneficiation strategy ahead of Phase 1 metallurgical testwork. By confirming that REEs occur as discrete phosphate minerals, the study opens the possibility of concentrating them by flotation before leaching, potentially reducing the volume of material processed. Managing Director and CEO Allister Caird said flotation testwork will be fast‑tracked to assess concentrate grades and recoveries, providing operational flexibility for the upcoming extraction phase.